History

The folk group “The Giullari” was founded in 1954 thanks to the young people of Minturno, proud to search, to keep and to show the costumes and traditions of their homeland.
In their songs and dances, they have tried to enclose all the hopes, the happiness and the joy of living of an ancient people with their many tradition, which have survived the invasions of many peoples.
After a long period of activity in feast and festivals in the nearby towns, in 1975 the group has re-organized itself and has widened with the participation of many other young Performers, of all social classes (about 100) that are not remunerated but are incited by their spirit of love for home folklore Minturno also has a young folk group “The little Giullari” with children from 5 to 13 years of age. Besides its folk meaning it also has social function, it represents a sound activity for children’s leisure time in a town that lacks public social and sport recreation.
“The Giullari” have had an intense activity in the last fifteen years participating to many local, national and international festivals.
They have obtained great success and admiration for the beauty and authenticity of the women’s costume of the “Pacchiana” that has been awarded as the most beautiful costume of Italy in the national exhibition of folklore costumes in 1934 in occasion of King Umberto It’s wedding. It has also won the 1 st prize at the international competition of Bogotà (Columbia) in 1981.
In Minturno the “Fest of the grain” is the most important Village fest of the year celebrated on the pagan goddess Marica and then to Cecere.
Since 1367 it has acquired a religious spirit and the offerings are devoted the Virgin of the Grain. Suggestive wagons full of wheat spikes, adorned by horses or oxen up to the cathedral of the Virgin.
This unique feast in filmed every year by national and international television channels, in Japan, Canada, Great Britain.
Through the song and dances of thanksgiving for the harvesting and grape Harvesting, the country dances as the “Tarantella and Saltarello” the courtship dances, the songs of love and spite, the vernacular scenes, The Giullari have set free the spirit of the Aurunca People all over the word.